Hello.

I recently posted for advice on accessing the Southeastern portion of the park. Thanks Jimbo for the response.

I was also wondering if anyone has any advice, tips, things to see, etc on the route going in at Beaverhouse, down Quetico River,Three Mile, Wolseley, Bearpelt Creek, Bearpelt Lake, Badwater, Quetico, back out through Beaverhouse.

This seems like a very doable 5 night trip, 6 day trip. Any thoughts? Overly ambitious?

I expect some of the area to be fairly rough due to under use. I'm aware of the pictos on Quetico. I was wondering if there was anything else of note to check out (such as a side trip down to Ivy Falls being worthwhile)?

Thanks.

Aaron

Thanks a tonne Jimbo. Our group typically moves everyday, but do try and leave enough time in the day to fish, relax, swim or whatever folks feel like doing. I'm wondering if you are aware of any campsites on Three Mile or the Quetico River? I'm also wondering if Beaverhouse to Ivy Falls is a doable shot in one day.

Seems like it would be a fairly long haul. Rivers are so hard to judge for time.

Again, thanks for the information.

Happy paddling!

Aaron

My apologies; I should have been more clear. The route we are heading on goes west from Beaverhouse down the Quetico River to the Namakan River to Three Mile Lake.

This is the section of the Quetico River that I was inquiring about.

Aaron

Aaron,

There are one or two campsites on the far SW end of Beaverhouse.  There used to be more but there was some serious blowdown damage on that side of the lake a few years back.  There's a pretty decent island site along that west wall towards the north end.  I don't recall any sites along the Quetico River.  There are allegedly a couple sites once you reach the Namakan, though we didn't find them (nor did we look too hard).  There are a few sites on Three Mile Lake but these receive considerable use from the locals.  They generally feature so-called "improvements", such as fish cleaning platforms, cached chairs, boats, etc..  Technically, though, these campsites aren't even IN the park, so I guess I can't beef too much about folks not following park regs.

There are a few decent sites on Wolseley (actually surprisingly few given the size of the lake).  By the way, that portage into Wolseley is very short, very flat & - at one time - featured one of the largest ant mounds I've ever seen.  I wouldn't want to upset those buggers.

You'll have the current with you as you drop down from Beaverhouse but - as you mentioned in an earlier post - those portages see VERY little usage so plan on spending extra time on them. The Namakan, however, will be flowing AGAINST you; it can be very powerful depending on the season & recent rainfall.  Nevertheless, with an early start, I would think you could make it down to the Falls to camp.   At least I managed to persuade park officials to give me a Three Mile Lake permit even though I accessed the park via Beaverhouse several years back.  They merely requested that we "make reasonable progress to the EP".  As the fishing was pretty good on the western end of Beaverhouse, we felt it would be "unreasonable" to progress any further on Day One.  I'm thinking it was Day Three before we got to Three Mile Lake.

Park1, so there's another issue for you.  You'll want to talk with park officials re: which entry permit to request.  Technically, if you enter on a Quetico Lake permit, you need to "enter" the park (ie. stick your foot into Quetico Lake) there.  Same thing with the Cirrus Lake EP, also accessible from Beaverhouse.  Technically, either way would mean miles of "backtracking" for you as there is no "Beaverhouse Lake EP".   Something tells me that not all park officials are as amenable to friendly persuasion as the ones I encountered years back.  Could be an issue for you (on the remote chance you were stopped) but probably not.  Maybe you should request the Quetico Lake EP, then make the mad dash to SW Beaverhouse before the B'house ranger spots you.

Sorry to complicate matters.  You probably already have a notion as to how you were going to handle this.  I'm not sure I'd change whatever that was.

Later,

Jimbo  

No campsites, or nice ones I'd stay at after leaving BH till Wolseley.

You can get there in one good day OK. For what it's worth the Ivy Falls Island campsite is actually outside the park, and heavily used anyway. Worth a look and fishy if you feel like visiting. The whole area around 3-Mile and Wolseley is used by the outfitters & guides on LLC. There's access to 3-Mile from a connecting lake to the southwest next to a road. So you'll see canoes and boats stashed in the area. Don't get me wrong though, it's an interesting area and a fun travel day.

Jimbo's right about Bearpelt Ck. Once you start up it you should expect solitude. Lots of logging artifacts along the creek all the way to Badwater. Try to spend some time on Omeme and Badwater. Both have some nice campsites and fishing. If you didn't get enough exploring and feel like you've got the time exit from Badwater thru Robin. Not much for group camping that I remember along that route (BW-R). I've solo camped on Robin, but it's not a very big site.